Since Prohibition was repealed, few voters have focused on alcohol as a relevant issue in federal elections. But while the majority of alcoholic beverage regulation currently takes place at the state and local level, the federal government still plays an important role in the price, availability, and social acceptance of our favorite booze. You can. This year’s presidential election may actually be the most important federal election for alcohol since the aftermath of Prohibition.
The alcohol industry was hit hard by tariffs during President Donald Trump’s first term, with aluminum tariffs driving up tariffs. beer can price— and the price of beer — and a fierce trade war with Europe cause hardship For whiskey distilleries. Europe responded retaliatory tariffs About bourbon and other American whiskies. America at the time answered kindly Tariffs on Scottish and Irish whiskey and other European liqueurs. Given the current state of the European market, become increasingly important For U.S. whiskey companies, the tariffs ended up hurting the U.S. whiskey industry far more than helping it.
Since the Biden administration, gradually de-escalation whiskey war aluminum tariff. The Kamala Harris campaign is taking advantage of this. caveat A “Trump Tequila Tax” on imported alcohol that Americans can expect if Trump wins.
However, the Biden-Harris administration can never be trusted when it comes to tariff policy. Continue Many of the tariffs President Trump enacted will be repealed rather than repealed. However, given that tariffs have been a persistent hobby of President Trump since he took office. pre-presidential eramore of America’s alcohol industry to come I’m worried Regarding the second President Trump rather than the comparison target turbidity Regarding Harris’ tariff trends.
The winery industry is concerned about immigration, a longtime policy priority of President Trump. President Trump’s restrictive stance on immigration serious impact For California’s wine industry, which relies heavily on immigrant labor from Mexico. At a time when many U.S. wineries, and the global wine market, are facing major challenges, a labor supply shock to the industry could further disrupt the wine world.
A potential Harris administration comes with its own risks. Most importantly, revisions to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines are planned. Coming in 2025and based on that internal sourcethe federal government is leaning toward declaring that “no amount of alcohol is acceptable for a healthy lifestyle.” This dietary guidance will reflect your recent eating habits. declaration The World Health Organization has announced that there is no “safe level” of alcohol and has significantly lowered the recommended drinking levels for the United States. Current guidelines— Reduce your intake from 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day to zero for women.
The consequences of such a move could be dire, not only because many Americans would be affected by the dietary guidelines, but also because it could spark a wave of outbreaks. Tobacco class action lawsuit against the alcohol industry. Meal guidelines have been revised every 5 yearsand this revision is being led by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. Under the Biden-Harris administration, these agencies have disrupted the process; Little-known secret federal agency committees It is to focus on underage drinking as a conduit for downward revisions to guidance on adult drinking levels.
Trump is famous, but ascetichis administration oversaw the 2020 guideline revision, and the federal agency ultimately leading the revision is refuse Efforts to lower the recommended amount of alcohol consumed at the time. Given the populist working-class base on which President Trump relies, says one alcohol industry commentator, pointed out There are clear political incentives at work. “It’s hard to imagine Donald Trump telling Kid Rock he should only have one Bud Light a day.”
The final area that could be affected by the presidential election is ongoing investigation The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) investigates whether there are anticompetitive or antitrust concerns in the alcohol industry. The agency launched the review as part of the Biden administration’s big push. Antitrust law enforcement. Originally, Producer layer Regarding the alcohol market, government officials appear to have belatedly realized that to the extent that there are anticompetitive concerns in the alcohol industry, they reside in government-mandated regulations. wholesale middle class-problem caused This is due to government involvement and is unlikely to be easily resolved through further government intervention.
Although I had some prior knowledge, speculation Ms. Harris could prove to be less aggressive in antitrust enforcement than Mr. Biden, she said. Support for antitrust law oversight This hope has been met with cold water in the food market. Although the second Trump administration is characterized by its own ambiguity about what it will be, Addressing antitrust lawsthe likelihood of suspending the current TTB conspiracy seems slightly higher under the Trump administration. Emphasis on deregulation in his first term.
Ultimately, when you put all of these various policy elements together, you come to a sobering conclusion. That means no matter who wins Tuesday, it’s shaping up to be a make-or-break election for Americans concerned about life, liberty and sobriety.
